GENNADY GOLOVKIN will defend his WBA Super world middleweight title against WBC Interim middleweight champion Marco Antonio Rubio on Saturday October 18 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing in the US.

Presented by K2 Promotions and GGG Promotions in association with Promociones Del Pueblo, the scheduled 12-round GOLOVKIN-RUBIO championship battle will headline an evening of entertainment at the West Coast’s premier outdoor venue for boxing.

“I’m very excited to fight in California,” said Golovkin. “I always enjoy attending fights at the StubHub Center and look forward to the fight against Marco Antonio Rubio.

Said Rubio, “I’m excited to fight another world champion. I always accept the biggest challenges and without a doubt this will be the greatest of my career. I will show Golovkin a real fight on October 18.”

“We’re looking forward to promoting the West Coast debut of Gennady Golovkin,” stated Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions. “His growing popularity across the country compels us to bring this highly anticipated fight to the StubHub Center, which has hosted so many exciting boxing events in recent years.

“Marco Antonio Rubio is among the toughest fighters in boxing and this battle with Gennady should provide fireworks from the opening bell.”

“It will be a tremendous fight,” said Oswaldo Kuchle, of Promociones Del Pueblo. “I can assure you that Rubio will make this a war.”

Sporting a record of 30-0 with 27 knockouts, the highest knockout ratio (90 per cent) of any active world champion, Golovkin has become a must-see international attraction with his aggressive all-action style and breathtaking knockouts.

On July 26 at Madison Square Garden, Golovkin stopped two-time world champion Daniel Geale in the third round.

Against Geale, Golovkin made his 11th title defence, while scoring his 17th knockout in a row. Golovkin will head to Big Bear, California next week to begin preparations under the watchful eye of long-time trainer Abel Sanchez

Fighting out of Torreon, Mexico and training in Oxnard, California with former world champion Robert Garcia, Rubio has compiled a record of 59-6-1 with 51 knockouts.

The 34-year-old Rubio is currently 16-1 in his last 17 bouts, most recently stopping Italian veteran Domenico Spada in the 10th round on April 5 in Chihuahua, Mexico, winning the WBC Interim middleweight title.